Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Vallejos to run for state Rep. Pitts' seat in 2018

Tommy Vallejos, a Montgomery County commissioner and Clarksville pastor, has confirmed a long-anticipated run for state office.

But it's not the one many expected. Just hours after state Sen. Mark Green announced he's running for Congress to replace Marsha Blackburn, who's running for U.S. Senate, Vallejos put in papers at about noon Thursday to run for the state House seat being vacated by Rep. Joe Pitts in District 67.

"Joe Pitts has done a great job, but I feel I can add to all that he's done," Vallejos said. "Everyone's saying, 'But there's never been a Hispanic state representative before,' but guess what, there's never been a Hispanic county commissioner before, so what's new?"

Many expected Vallejos to go for the state Senate seat, which will involve a special election and might have pitted him against fellow Republican state Rep. Jay Reedy.

"For me, this is better suited," Vallejos said. The state Senate seat involves a larger region — all of Montgomery County, plus Stewart and Houston counties. District 67 is confined to most of the Clarksville city limits.

"I want to take this step first," he said.

He'll be in the Republican primary in August 2018, with the general election in November.

Army veteran, former gang member

A retiree of the U.S. Army, where he served for over 21 years and was awarded the Bronze Star, Vallejos is associate pastor at Faith Outreach Church in Clarksville.

As a conservative Republican, Vallejos doesn't match the typical profile for a Hispanic politician, particularly in an era of politicized anti-immigration and white nationalist rallies, such as the White Lives Matter event coming up in Shelbyville, Tenn.

But he was an active member of the Ted Cruz campaign, and he later campaigned for President Donald Trump.

"We have a growing state and growing business, and I want to keep that," Vallejos said. "I want to make sure we don't grow government."

Vallejos, originally from New Mexico, has a storied history. A former gang member, with the neck tattoos to show for it, he lost two brothers and his stepfather to gang violence, and his sister and two brothers were sent to prison for murder.

He himself previously sold and used drugs. "I've seen how God restored my family and restored my life, so I hold to the (political) party that reflects that."

Vallejos said the stands he's taken against abortion and for traditional marriage should be no surprise.

"If you look at the core of the Hispanic community, it's staunchly pro-life and staunchly traditional marriage," he said.

Being raised in poverty has given him an unusual perspective on the problems facing American families and the solutions he thinks can work.

"The saddest thing in America is Hispanic girls have the highest rate of teen pregnancy and the highest dropout rate."

He pointed to the diversity of the Trump cabinet and the growing diversity of the Republican Party, but primarily Vallejos emphasized that it's about the message.

Having seen firsthand the problems of poverty and violence, having marched for injustice, having served in the military, and having worked with prisoners and addicts, Vallejos said he wants to represent everyone, and not just with his vote.

"Not just a vote, but a voice," he said, signaling that as a key message of his campaign.

Vallejos said his campaign website will be up in the next week, and he will have campaign events scheduled soon.